Pillow having a concealed modular base frame system
The invention generally pertains to a pillow convertible between an open position as a food and beverage holder and a closed position as a pillow. By way of example, the pillow has a first and second pillow portion that may be coupled and uncoupled to switch between a closed position and an open position. The pillow also has a food surface member with one or more beverage holders that is sized to fit within the interior of the pillow in the closed position. In another example, the food surface member is a two-piece construction with a slidable tray lock that moves between a first position when the pillow is closed and a second position that secures the two pieces together as a substantially coplanar surface when the pillow is open. In yet another example, the beverage holder is tapered so as to fit a variety of sizes of beverage containers.
This application claims priority to, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), and is a non-provisional application of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/995,018, filed Sep. 24, 2007, entitled “Concealed Beverage Holder Pillow with Adjacent Placemat,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates, in general, to pillows, and more particularly to a convertible pillow having a concealed food surface with integral beverage holder.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFor many folks, relaxing on sectional couches with ottomans, couches and reclining chairs is a daily activity. Relaxation is often accompanied by the enjoyment of a beverage, snack or meal. Couches and reclining chairs, however, do not typically provide a place to securely place a beverage and/or snack that is easily accessible from a multitude of locations or positions on the furniture. For example, end tables or a coffee table positioned along side a sectional couch with an ottoman may be difficult to access and, in many cases, are non-functional for the intended purpose if one is positioned too far away from the access point. Moreover, many households do not even use a coffee table in their living rooms because of the significant amount of space they consume. Thus, households are left with a limited capability for providing a convenient, user friendly, and secure location to place beverage and snacks while lounging on, for example, sectionals with ottomans, couches or reclining chairs. Thus, current furniture arrangements may create an inconvenience for something that should be simple and practical—the ability to comfortably enjoy a drink and snack while making use of the comforts of a piece of furniture.
Each year, millions of pillows are sold across America for decorating and providing comfort for ones head while lying down. Pillows are typically incorporated into living room designs for many purposes, such as, enhancing the appearance of the room by complimenting the design of the furniture. Since they are readily available and can easily blend in with the décor of a room without being an eye sore, it is desirable to incorporate a food surface with integral beverage holder into a pillow that can effortlessly switch between the functions of a comfortable pillow and a food/beverage holder. It is against this background that various embodiments of the present invention were developed.
SUMMARYThe invention pertains generally to a method and apparatus for a convertible pillow that swaps between a pillow and a food/beverage holder. More particularly, the invention pertains to a pillow that has a pillow member and a food surface member. The pillow member has a first and second pillow portion in its preferred embodiment, but a single pillow member with a single pillow portion is contemplated and is not outside the spirit and scope of the present invention. The food surface member typically has at least one integral beverage holder and is sized to fit within the convertible pillow in the closed position as a pillow. The components and compositions of the present invention may be embodied in multiple ways and forms for achieving a pillow that switches between a food/beverage holder and a pillow. Accordingly, different embodiments exist for the physical make-up of the convertible pillow.
In one embodiment, a convertible pillow is disclosed having a closed position as a pillow and an open position as a food surface and beverage holder. The convertible pillow comprises a pillow member having a first pillow portion and a second pillow portion. An edge of the first pillow portion is coupled to an edge of the second pillow portion such that the first and second pillow portions are separable on at least three sides in the open position. The first pillow portion is also configured to be hinged and foldable relative to the second pillow portion at the connected edges so as to convert between the closed position and the open position. The convertible pillow also has a food surface member having at least one integral beverage holder. The food surface member is appropriately sized to fit within the convertible pillow in the closed position. The integral beverage holder is configured to securely receive different sizes of beverage containers.
In one aspect of the invention, the food surface member comprises a two-piece food surface member having a first surface portion and a second surface portion. The first surface portion is removably secured to the first pillow portion and the second surface portion is removably secured to the second pillow portion using at least one food surface member holding means.
According to another broad aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, the first food surface member and said second food surface member are removably secured together by at least one slidable locking member. Typically, the slidable locking member moves within a slidable locking member groove. The groove is located on the surface and positioned adjacent an edge of the first and second food surface members.
In another embodiment, a convertible pillow is disclosed having a pillow member, two-piece food surface and slidable tray lock. The pillow member has a first pillow portion and a second pillow portion. The first pillow portion is configured to be coupled to the second pillow portion in a closed position. The first pillow portion is also configured to be uncoupled from the second pillow portion along at least three pillow portion edges in an open position. The two-piece food surface has a first surface portion and a second surface portion and is configured to fit within the interior of the pillow member in the closed position. The first and second surface portions each have a tapered beverage holder located within an opening in the surface portions. In addition, the first and second surface portions each have a first slidable tray lock groove positioned adjacent an edge of the surface portions. The first slidable tray lock is configured to move between a first position and a second position within the first slidable tray lock grooves. The first position allows the first and second pillow portions to be coupled in the closed position. The second position allows the first and second surface portions to be secured together as a substantially flat coplanar surface when the first and second pillow portions are uncoupled in the open position.
The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of various embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claims.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of specific shapes, components etc., in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known components or methods have not been described in detail but rather in general terms in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present.
In the closed position of pillow 10, for pillow edge 11, the first connecting edge 40 of the first pillow portion 20 contacts the second connecting edge 50 of the second pillow portion 30. For each of the remaining pillow edges 12, 13, 14 of pillow 10, each connecting edge of the first pillow portion 20 contacts the corresponding connecting edge of the second pillow portion 30. First pillow portion 20 is typically held in contact with second pillow portion 30 by a pillow securing means (not shown) such as a zipper, clasp or similar device.
Convertible pillow 100 is illustrated in the open position from a top perspective view in
In the illustrated embodiment, the food surface is a two-piece design comprised of a first surface portion 120 and a second surface portion 125. The first and second surface portions 120, 125 may be manufactured of any material suitable for use as a surface for supporting food articles and the like. In addition, the first and second surface portions 120, 125 may be textured to create a non-skid textured surface such that food items do not easily slip off the surface. First surface portion 120 is removably coupled to first pillow portion 101 and second surface portion 125 is removably coupled to second pillow portion 102. An integral beverage holder 120 is located within an opening in the first surface portion 120. Typically, the beverage holder 120 is tapered from the maximum diameter of the opening in the first surface portion to a smaller diameter within the interior of the holder such that the beverage holder is able to securely hold a number of sizes of beverage containers such as a drinking glass, beer mug, coffee cup, fast food cup, travel mug or the like. The tapered shape of the beverage holder 120 (more clearly shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, in open position, the first surface portion 120 and the second surface portion 125 are removably secured together by a first slidable locking member 105 and a second slidable locking member 110. Although, it should be readily understood by one of skill in the art that a single slidable locking member may also be used to achieve the desired result. The first surface portion 120 has a plurality of locking member grooves 109, 114 and the second surface portion also has a plurality of locking member grooves 107, 112 located on at least the surface shown in
In operation, first slidable locking member 105 moves between a first position and a second position within the locking member grooves 107, 109 and second slidable locking member 110 moves between a first position and a second position within the locking member grooves 112, 114. In the first position, for example, first slidable locking member 105 would move either to the left or the right such that it rests entirely on either the locking member groove 107 or the locking member groove 109. Similarly, in the first position of the illustrated example, second slidable locking member 110 would also move to the left or to the right so that it rests entirely on either the locking member groove 112 or the locking member groove 114. Thus, the first position is configured to allow the first pillow portion 101 and the second pillow portion 102 to be coupled in a closed position.
In the second position, for example, first slidable locking member 105 would move either to the left or the right such that it rests on both the locking member groove 107 and the locking member groove 109 at the coupling 103 of the two connecting edges of the first and second pillow portions 101, 102. Similarly, in the first position of the illustrated example, second slidable locking member 110 would also move to the left or to the right so that it rests on both the locking member groove 112 and the locking member groove 114 at the coupling 103 of the two connecting edges of the first and second pillow portions 101, 102. Thus, the second position is configured to allow the first surface portion 120 and the second surface portion 125 to be secured together as a substantially flat coplanar surface when the first and second pillow portions 101, 102 are uncoupled in an open position.
As shown in the top perspective view of
A pillow 250 is illustrated in the open position and the closed position in
As shown in
In operation, the food surface 305 rests on either or both the interior surface 306 of first pillow portion 301 and the interior surface 307 of second pillow portion 302. Food surface 305 may be secured to the interior surfaces 306, 307 using a Velcro strip attached to the back of the surface 305 or a similar securing means such that the surface does not slide around on the interior surfaces 306, 307. Instead of being integral with the food surface 305, beverage holder 310 is disposed within the first pillow portion 301 having an opening in interior surface 306 and beverage holder 315 is disposed within the second pillow portion 302 having an opening in interior surface 307. Pillow securing means 320 is used to secure the connecting edges of pillow portion 301 to the connecting edges of pillow portion 302 in the closed position (not shown).
In operation, the food surface 405 is removably secured to the interior surface 411 of second pillow portion 402. Food surface 405 may be secured to the interior surface 402 using a Velcro strip attached to the back of the surface 405 or a similar securing means such that the surface does not slide around on the interior surface 411. Instead of being integral with the food surface 405, beverage holder 410 is disposed within the second pillow portion 402 having an opening in interior surface 411. Pillow securing means 420 is used to secure the connecting edges of pillow portion 401 to the connecting edges of pillow portion 402 in the closed position (not shown).
In the open position, first modular base portion 515 can pivot relative to the second modular base portion 520, such that the first pillow portion can rotate relative to the second pillow portion when the convertible pillow is opened and closed (illustrated in
In the open position, first modular base portion 605 can pivot relative to the second modular base portion 610, such that the first pillow portion can rotate relative to the second pillow portion when the convertible pillow is opened and closed (illustrated in
As shown in
A single cupholder is shown in the first surface portion 805. As one of skill in the art can appreciate, any number of cup holders may be utilized in accordance with the present invention. The cupholder 815 has a number of flaps 816, 817, 818, 819 that holds various sized drink containers. In the illustrated embodiment, a magnetic system having a first magnet fastener 825 and second magnet fastener 830 couples the first pillow portion 801 to the second pillow portion 802 in the closed position. Any number of closing means may be used to secure the first pillow portion to the second portion, such as a zipper, velcro, latch, or lock, to name a few.
The illustrated convertible pillow 875 of
Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that any particular embodiment shown and described by way of illustration is in no way intended to be considered limiting. Therefore, references to details of various embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims which in themselves recite only those features regarded as the invention.
Claims
1. A convertible pillow having a closed position and an open position, the convertible pillow comprising:
- a pillow member having a first pillow portion and a second pillow portion, the pillow member having a section of an edge of the first pillow portion coupled to a section of an edge of the second pillow portion to pivot between the closed position and the open position, the first pillow portion and second pillow portion each having a cushion material for a user to rest on in the closed position; and
- a modular base frame having a first modular base portion and a second modular base portion, the first modular base portion and second modular base portion each having a plurality of outer surfaces and an opening configured for receiving a storage bin or surface member therein, the modular base frame sized to be enclosed within the cushion material of the pillow member in the closed position, the first modular base portion surrounded and supported by the cushion material of the first pillow portion on all outer surfaces, the second modular base portion surrounded and supported by the cushion material of the second pillow portion on all exterior outer surfaces.
2. The convertible pillow of claim 1, wherein the first and second pillow portions each have a plurality of corresponding detachable connecting edges that are separable in the open position and securable in the closed position.
3. The convertible pillow of claim 1, wherein the first modular base portion is located within the interior of the first pillow portion and the second modular base portion is located within the interior of the second pillow portion, and wherein the first modular base portion pivots relative to the second modular base portion when the pillow converts between the closed position and the open position.
4. The convertible pillow of claim 1, further comprising a hinging system for coupling the first modular base portion to the second modular base portion, wherein the first modular base portion pivots relative to the second modular base portion when opening and closing the convertible pillow.
5. The convertible pillow of claim 1, further comprising a first removable rigid surface member having a substantially planar surface sized for placing multiple items thereon located within the opening in the first modular base portion and a second removable rigid surface member having a substantially planar surface sized for placing multiple items thereon located within the opening in the second modular base portion.
6. The convertible pillow of claim 1, further comprising a first removable storage bin located within the opening in the first modular base portion and a second removable storage bin located within the opening in the second modular base portion.
7. The convertible pillow of claim 1, further comprising a first removable rigid surface member having a substantially planar surface sized for placing multiple items thereon located within the opening in the first modular base portion and a first removable storage bin located within the opening in the second modular base portion.
8. The convertible pillow of claim 1, further comprising a first fixed storage bin located within the at least one opening in the first modular base portion.
9. A convertible pillow having a closed position and an open position, the convertible pillow comprising:
- a pillow member having a first pillow portion and a second pillow portion, the pillow member having a connecting edge of the first pillow portion coupled to a connecting edge of the second pillow portion to convert between the closed position and the open position, the first and second pillow portions each having a plurality of corresponding detachable connecting edges that are separable in the open position and securable in the closed position, the first pillow portion and second pillow portion each having a cushion material for a user to rest on in the closed position; and
- a first modular base portion and a second modular base portion, the first modular base portion and second modular base portion each having a plurality of outer surfaces and an opening configured for receiving a storage bin or surface member therein, the first and second modular base portions sized to be enclosed within the cushion material of the pillow member in the closed position, the first modular base portion surrounded and supported by the cushion material of the first pillow portion on all outer surfaces, the second modular base portion surrounded and supported by the cushion material of the second pillow portion on all outer surfaces.
10. The convertible pillow of claim 9, wherein the first modular base portion pivots relative to the second modular base portion when the pillow converts between the closed position and the open position.
11. The convertible pillow of claim 10, further comprising a hinging system for coupling the first modular base portion to the second modular base portion, wherein the first modular base portion pivots relative to the second modular base portion when opening and closing the convertible pillow.
12. The convertible pillow of claim 11, further comprising a first removable rigid surface member having a substantially planar surface sized for placing multiple items thereon located within the opening in the first modular base portion and a second removable rigid surface member having a substantially planar surface sized for placing multiple items thereon located within the opening in the second modular base portion.
13. The convertible pillow of claim 11, further comprising a first removable storage bin located within the opening in the first modular base portion and a second removable storage bin located within the opening in the second modular base portion.
14. The convertible pillow of claim 11, further comprising a first removable surface member having a substantially planar surface sized for placing multiple items thereon located within the opening in the first modular base portion and a first removable storage bin located within the opening in the second modular base portion.
15. The convertible pillow of claim 9, further comprising a first fixed storage bin located within the at least one opening in the first modular base portion.
16. A convertible pillow having a closed position and an open position, the convertible pillow comprising:
- a pillow member having a first pillow portion and a second pillow portion, the pillow member having a section of an edge of the first pillow portion coupled to a section of an edge of the second pillow portion to form a hinge member for pivoting between the closed position and the open position, the first pillow portion and second pillow portion each having a cushion material for a user to rest on in the closed position; and
- a modular base frame having a plurality of outer surfaces and at least one opening configured for receiving a storage bin or surface member therein, the modular base frame sized to be enclosed within and surrounded and supported on all outer surfaces by the cushion material of the first and second pillow portions of the pillow member in the closed position.
17. The convertible pillow of claim 16, wherein the first and second pillow portions each have a plurality of corresponding detachable connecting edges that are separable in the open position and securable in the closed position.
18. The convertible pillow of claim 17, further comprising a first removable rigid surface member having a substantially planar surface sized for placing multiple items thereon located within the at least one opening in the modular base frame.
19. The convertible pillow of claim 17, further comprising a removable first storage bin located within the at least one opening in the modular base frame.
20. The convertible pillow of claim 17, further comprising a first removable storage bin and a first removable rigid surface member having a substantially planar surface sized for placing multiple items thereon located within the at least one opening in the modular base frame.
21. The convertible pillow of claim 17, further comprising a first fixed storage bin within the at least one opening in the modular base frame.
2786465 | March 1957 | Moxley |
Type: Grant
Filed: Jun 16, 2011
Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
Patent Publication Number: 20110277245
Inventors: Jay Brock Matthews (Colorado Springs, CO), Daniel A. Yarmer (Colorado Springs, CO)
Primary Examiner: Robert G Santos
Assistant Examiner: Nicholas Polito
Attorney: Gordon Silver Ltd.
Application Number: 13/162,535
International Classification: A47C 20/00 (20060101);